What am I doing wrong here? Par meter help.

[Dirtyshoez]

So I purchased an sq-520 and the par was so low I figured it was a bad sensor. Went back and forth with Apogee and didn't get anywhere, nothing bad about the service just couldn't seem to figure out why I was getting par of 12 or something ridiculous, hence why I was thinking.. there's no way.... so I sent my meter back and waiting for a replacement. But I rented an mq-510 and this is what i got.. so now im not blaming the sensor and before I get mad at my lights I'm calling user error so can anyone help that has experience with this parmeter.

Apologies on the blue light but if you can't see im just below water surface and it says 5... which i know is no way in hell or my coral would not look as happy as it is.

 

[painter1982]

Can you take a picture of the probe exactly how you are using it but close up under normal light? I can’t really tell in your picture but maybe you left the protective cover on.